Coin controlled vending machine



B. B. SMITH 3,033,338

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1962 Filed Feb. 27, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

,4T70E/I/EYS.

May 8, 1962 B. B. SMITH 3,033,338

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 4 IN V EN TOR.

50/ 090 5. SM/ 7H,

United States Patent 3,033,338 COIN CQNTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Buford B. Smith, St. James Apts., 919 Block St. James St., Peoria, Ill. Filed Feb. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 795,949 1 Claim. (Cl. 194-80) This invention relates to article vending machines, and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to coin controlled vending devices.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a coin controlled vending machine for dispensing packaged goods or other articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin controlled vending machine including reciprocable dispensing means of which the proper sized control coin becomes a component part thereof and is movable in one direction therewith as the article is dispensed therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the type described generally above, anti-theft means which is rendered ineffective upon movement of the aforementioned dispensing means in said one direction.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a coin controlled vending machine which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, to illustrate certain component elements of the instant vending machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail cross sectional view, partly in side elevation, of the coin controlled vending machine illustrated in FIGURE 1, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 2-2- of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail cross sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of line -3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the an'ows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of component parts of the coin controlled vending machine;

and

FIGURE 5 is a detail cross sectional view of the vending machine, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral designates, in general, a coin controlled vending machine constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention. As illustrated in the drawings, the machine 10 is seen to comprise an elongated substantially rectangular base or support plate 12 having, adjacent one of its remote ends, a laterally projecting latch tongue 14 and, at its other end, a laterally projecting flange 16 from the central portion of which projects an integrally formed lock bar 18, the latter extending substantially parallel to the support plate 12. From the longitudinally extending marginal edges of the plate 12 extend a pair of oppositely disposed laterally spaced side walls 20, 22.

Reference numeral 24 denotes, in general, a receptacle for articles to be dispensed, the receptacle 24 having a substantially U-shaped configuration which includes a pair of rectangular elongated and laterally spaced side arms 26, 28 having a bight member 30 extending between and connecting a pair of adjacent ends thereof.

For purposes to be described, the bight member 30 is Patented May 8, 1962 formed with a pair of elongated substantially rectangular slots 32, 34 which extend parallel to the side arms 26, 28 in laterally spaced relation relative to each other.

The side arm 26 has integrally formed therewith an outwardly directed rear flange 36 and an inwardly directed front flange 38 (see FIGURE 1). The other side arm 28 is provided with a similar outwardly directed rear flange 40 and an inwardly directed front flange 42. The flanges 36 and 40 diverge away from each other while the flanges 38 and 42 are disposed in laterally spaced, substantially parallel and confronting relation relative to each other. As is seen in the drawings, the front flanges 38 and 42 terminate at their respective inner ends at points spaced above the bight 30 to form slots 44, 46 disposed in confronting relation and opening towards each other. The lower terminal ends of the rear flanges 36 and 40 are vertically spaced at points 48, 50 above the slots 44, 46.

A substantially U-shaped channel member 52 having a pair of opposed laterally spaced and substantially parallel sides 54, 56 is provided with a pair of adjacent longitudinally extending edges integrally connected by a substantially rectangular bight member 58. To serve functions to be described, the bight member 58 has its lower corners cut out at 59, 60 to form a substantially rectangular tongue or back stop 61, the latter having its outer end engaged in the bight member 30 intermediate the slots 32, 34.

Extending longitudinally of the bight member 58 and centrally thereof is a substantially U-shaped channel member 62 having a bight 63. From the longitudinally extending marginal edges thereof project a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel side walls 64, 66 having diverging side flanges 68, 70 projecting therefrom,

, the flanges 68, '70 being rigidly secured to the bight member 58 whereby the channel member 60 and the bight 58- cooperate to define a coin chute therebetween, as will be made more apparent below. As is seen in the drawings, the side walls 54, 56 are rigidly secured, respectively, to the side arms 26, 28 and extend longitudinally thereof adjacent the flanges 36 and 40. The described assembly including the bight member 58, side arms 26, 28, the bight member 30 and the front flanges 38 and 42 cooperate to define the article receiving receptacle 24.

The receptacle 24 is secured to the base plate 12 by welding or otherwise securing the same, as for example, by connecting the rear flanges 36, 40 thereto proximate the side walls 20, 22 adjacent the tongue 14 by screws and nuts 72, 74, respectively.

A substantially U-shaped bracket is eonnoted at 76 and includes a bight member 78 having integrally formed bracket arm 80*, 82 at each end thereof, the bracket arms having a pair of front and rear tabs 84, 86 and 88, 90, respectively, forming therebetween a pair of confronting guide slots 92, 94. The bight member 7 8 is formed with a centrally positioned rectangular coin discharge slot 96 to which further reference will be made, and the bight member '78 also includes a front depending flange 98 to which is secured a normally vertical substantially rectangular plate 100' centrally apertured at 102.

Slidably mounted on the bight 78 is a substantially rectangular ejector plate 104 having, adjacent each end thereof and projecting upright from its rear marginal edge, a pair of article-engaging arms 106, 108 and intermediate the arms 106, 108 the ejector plate 104 is struck, punched or otherwise formed with a coin slot 109 having raised opposed sides 114, 115. As seen in the drawings, the slot 109, when the device is in its inoperative condition, is vertically aligned with the lower end of the coin chute.

The opposed ends of the plate 104 terminate in upright 3 flanges 110, 111, adapted for sliding engagement with the bracket arms 80, 82, the flanges 110, 111 each having a tongue 112, 113 projecting laterally therefrom for sliding engagement in the slots 92, 94.

The ejector plate operating means is designated at 116 and includes a second substantially rectangular plate 118 which is mounted on the plate 104 for sliding movement relative thereto or for movement therewith in a manner to be described below. The plate 118 includes a pair of integrally formed centrally located angularly inclined side walls 120, 122 which are formed with a pair of spaced substantially parallel slots 124, 126 of which slot 124 normally is aligned, when the device is inoperative, with the coin slot 109 when it too is in its inoperative position. The slot 126 receives therethrough a substantially rectangular draw plate 128. The plate 118 has a pair of slots 118A, 118B extending inwardly from the rear thereof, these slots being adjacent each end of the plate 118 and are aligned with the slots 32, 34 and are of shorter length than the latter.

One end of an operating shaft 130 is fixedly secured to the draw plate 128 while the other end thereof extends through the aperture 102 formed in the plate 100. The other end of the shaft 130 is provided with an enlarged knurled operating head 132. Mounted on the shaft 130 and behind the plate 100 is a washer 134 and a resilient collar 136. A helicoidal spring 138 encompasses the shaft 130 with one of its ends engaged in the collar 136 and its other end abutting against the draw plate 128. Thus, the plate 118 is constantly biased for movement in a direction towards the base plate 12.

Article theft guard means are provided and comprise a substantially U-shaped member 140 having an elongated substantially rectangular front guard bar 142 from the opposed ends of which project a pair of spaced and substantially parallel rectangular side arms 144, 146. The lower edges of the side arms 144, 146 adjacent their re spective outer ends are notched at 148 (only one being shown) and are downwardly inclined from the notches 148 to form cam surfaces 150, 152. Rivets 154 secure the outer ends of the side arms 144, 146 to the rear tabs 88, 90 and the side arms 26, 28 and also serve as pivot means for the guard means. As is seen in the drawings, the guard bar 142 extends forwardly of the flanges 36, 42 in spaced relation relative thereto and extends transversely across the article receiving receptacle 24 and across the slots 44, 46 of the flanges 38, 42 and across the open side of the receptacle 24 with the lower edge of the guard bar 142 being substantially flush with the bight member (see FIGURE 3).

The theft guard construction is such that the tongues 112, 113 normally engage within the notches 148 when the device is inoperative, but when the device 10 is operative the tongues slide longitudinally of the slots 92, 94 and slide under the cam surfaces 150, 152 causing the guard bar 142 to pivot upwardly to permit an article to be dispensed from the receptacle 24, in a manner to be described.

The device 10 is formed with a detachable substantially hollow rectangular closure member 160 which includes a front cover plate 162 from which laterally project a pair of spaced elongated side walls 164, 166 and a pair of vertically spaced top and bottom walls 168, 170. The top wall 168 is formed with a coin slot 712 aligned with the aforedescribed coin chute, and with a downwardly turned fiange 174 adapted to lock behind the latch tongue 14.

Conventional lock means 176 are secured to the bottom wall 170 for coaction with the lock bar 18.

The cover plate 162 is formed with a horizontal substantially rectangular opening 178 aligned with the guard bar 142 and an apenture 180 through which projects the knurled head 132.

The article engaging arms 106, 108 normally extend upwardly above the bight member 30 and the plate 118 through the slots 32, 34 and 118A, 1183 in which they are reciprocable, and slightly behind the plane of the bight member 58 for movement through the cutouts 59, 60 during the article dispensing operation.

Any suitable means (not shown) may be used to conmeet the base plate 12 on a vertical wall or other support.

From the foregoing escription of the vending machine 10, its operation is deemed to be self-evident.

Assuming that the component parts of the vending machine 10 are in the positions illustrated in the several figures, a coin of the proper size is inserted through the coin slot 172 and falls through the coin chute and through the slot 124 formed in the side walls 120, 122. The coin then enters the slot 109 formed in the ejector plate 104.

Now as the operator draws outwardly on the knob 132, the ejector plate 104 together with the ejector plate operating means 116 are drawn together towards the open side of the receptacle 24. The movement of the ejector plate 104 with the means 116 is effected by the connection established by the inserted coin and since the same are now locked together they move as a single unit.

It being assumed that the articles to be dispensed are vertically stacked on the plate member 30, the lowermost one of these articles is engaged by the upper ends of the arms 106, 108 which now move through the slots 32, 34. As the ejector plate 104 so moves, the tongues 112, 113 move out of their respective notches 148 formed in the side arms 144, 146 and as the same move in the recesses 92, 94 they engage against the cam surfaces 150, 152 causing the guard bar 142 to elevate and pivot around the pins or rivets 154. Thus, as the article is moved towards the slots 44, 46, the guard bar 142 is gradually raised thereabove to permit the article to be dispensed from the receptacle 24.

The vending of the article is not completed until the ejector plate 104 has been moved to position the coin slot 109 over the coin discharge slot 96. The operator then releases the knob 132 which then causes the clamping engagement between the ejector plate 104, coin and ejector plate operating mechanism 116 to be released whereby the coin is now free to drop through the coin slot 109 and the coin discharge slot 106 to fall into the lower end of the closure means 160. Thus it is seen that there is a small relative movement permitted between the ejector plate 104 and the ejector plate operating means 116. Now as the operating mechanism 116 moves in its reverse direction, the inner ends of the slots 118A, 118B engage against the arms 106, 108 causing them to move in the reverse direction and to assume the positions shown in FIGURE 5.

In the absence of the proper coin disposed in the slot 109 and the slot 124, the operating mechanism 116 for the ejector plate 104 is free to reciprocate Without causing or effecting movement of the ejector Plate 104.

It should be noted at this point, that as the ejector plate 104 is returned to its original position as shown in the several figures of the drawings, the tongues 112, 113 slide in their respective slots 94, 92, and in so moving they retrace the cam surfaces 150, 152 to permit the guard bar 142 to descend to its original position.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A coin controlled vending machine comprising a substantially vertical hollow article-receiving receptacle having a closed end provided with a plurality of slots extending inwardly from an edge thereof, said closed end supporting articles to be vended in vertically spaced relation, support means depending from said receptacle and extending across said closed end in vertically spaced relation relative thereto, said support means having a transversely extending coin discharge opening formed therein, a face plate rigidly secured to said support means and extending between said closed end and said support means, an article ejector plate mounted for reciprocation across said support means and having a coin slot extending transversely therethrough, said coin slot and said coin discharge opening being normally out of alignment with respect to each other, said ejector plate including a plurality of laterally projecting arms extending through, respectively, said slots formed in said closed end for engagement with an article to be dispensed from said receptacle, a second plate mounted for reciprocation on said ejector plate, said second plate having a pair of upwardly-converging centrally-located side Walls, said side walls having a coin receiving slot extending transversely therethrough normally aligned with said coin slot, said second plate having a plurality of slots extending inwardly from an edge thereof and disposed in parallelism relative to said first slots, a draw plate fixedly secured to said side walls of said second plate and projecting laterally therefrom, an elongated shaft mounted for re ciprocation through said face plate and having an end thereof fixedly connected to said draw plate, said shaft being manipulative to etfect reciprocation of said second plate relative to said ejector plate, said ejector plate and said second plate being releasably connected together upon the presence of a coin in said coin slot and coin receiving slot to move as a unit with said coin upon manipulation of said shaft in one direction to effect dispensing of said articles and movement of said coin over said coin discharge opening, and lost motion means between said ejector plate and said second plate to release said coin for movement through said coin discharge opening and consequently return said ejector and said second plate to their respective original positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,499 Williams June 17, 1890 537,811 Bowie Apr. 23, 1895 885,187 Simpson Apr. 21, 1908 1,050,594 Angell Ian. 14, 1913 1,919,017 Giles July 18, 1933 1,999,238 Hope Apr. 30, 1935 2,885,051 Casey May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,853 Germany Dec. 10, 1902 

